Even Henry''s most generous offer hadn''t been enough to sway him. Frustrated, Henry had finally asked Vincent directly, "Is it because of Noreen that you''re unwilling to work with us?"


    Vincent''s answer had been just as direct. "Yes."


    "I thought you were a man who could separate business from personal matters."


    "I am," Vincent had said frankly. "But it depends on the person. When Ms. Gilmore and I discuss the project, she always approaches it from a founder''s perspective. You and Director Lowell, on the other hand, only see it from an investor''s point of view. That is the difference between you. A startup needs more than just funding."


    With Vincent''s mind made up, Henry knew he had to make a choice. But he couldn''t bring himself to give up on bringing Bianca into the deal.


    Back at his hotel, Henry was nning his next move when his father, Sanford Brooke, called. He said he would bending in Rivercrest City the next afternoon and nned to visit Professor Halley Joyner, telling Henry to join him. Henry agreed.


    ...


    That evening, Noreen received a call from Mrs. Joyner, who was incredibly impressed with her business n. She even asked how Noreen had managed to make such a typically dry document sopelling and interesting.


    Noreen thought for a moment. "Because someone once told me that you should write a business n like a love letter."<fne706> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FιndＮovel</fne706>


    It was the first time Mrs. Joyner had heard such a description, and she was captivated by the idea. The purpose of a business n, after all, was to win over investors, to make them fall in love with your project. It was just like writing a love letter-you had to find a way to capture their interest and make them choose you.


    Mrs. Joyner scheduled a meeting for the following week to discuss the acquisition in detail, and Noreen readily epted.


    Just as she hung up, Dn Wilder called. He asked if she was free the next day to visit Professor Joyner with him. Noreen said she was; even if she weren''t, she would make time.


    "I''ll pick you up tomorrow, then."


    Noreen agreed.


    The next day, Dn was waiting for her outside Winrich Tower, a bouquet of sunflowers in his hand. "I passed a flower shop on the way," he said with a casual smile.


    "They''re beautiful." Few women could resist flowers, and Noreen was no exception.


    Seeing her delight, Dn''s mood brightened. He opened the car door for her. "Let''s go."


    After the car pulled away, Bianca emerged from the building''s lobby. She had been at TechVenture to check on Aetheria*''s progress and hadn''t expected to see Dn. She had noticed something before, by today it was ridenfable. The way Dn looked at Noreen was different. Very different.


    Her brow furrowed deeply. She couldn''t make sense of it. What''s more, since returning to the country, Dn had been distant, almost


    Pasif


    he were intentionally avoiding their


    old circle of friends.


    Once in her car, Bianca called Jude and asked if he knew what Dn had been up totely.


    "No idea. I haven''t seen him in days."


    "Can you find out for me?"


    Jude, never one for subtlety, did exactly that, calling Dn''s secretary directly. A few minutester, he called Bianca back. "Dn has a lunch meeting today at The Eastern Gardens."


    When Dn and Noreen arrived at The Eastern Gardens, Halley and Sanford were already there, sipping tea. Sanford recognized Dn but not Noreen and asked who she was. Noreen nced at Halley, who remained silent, so she simply said she was a friend of Dn''s.


    Sanford misinterpreted this, smiling as he remarked that they made a handsome couple. He then sighed that his own son, who was getting on in years, was still single.


    Checking the time, he saw that Henry waste. He pulled out his phone to call him.